The mending of the end rib of an ivory fan containing a fracture about an inch long, is a rather difficult job, as the joining up must be done from the back. Procure a thin veneer of ivory 2 in. long and rather wider than the rib of the fan. Scrape the surface of the veneer and the back of the fracture and fasten together with cement. When set, dress off the sharp edges with a file, and reform the edges of the carved surface by filing and scraping, taking particular notice that the strengthening piece does not cause the fan to bulge when shut up. If the rib is saw-pierced as well as carved, the holes may now be drilled to admit the saw, which must be carefully worked round the original piercing. A more substantial job, if the fan is valuable, would be to procure a veneer of African ivory about 1/8 in. thick, the carving and dressing of which would bring it down to 1/12 in., the relative thickness of the end ribs. For convenience of handling, this veneer may be tacked down by the four corners on a flat piece of wood. The design may now be drawn on the veneer with pencil and the pattern cut with sharp gravers such as engravers use. To get the stuff out clean and smooth, each cut must be repeated till the proper depth is obtained.

If the work is merely an incised pattern, filled in with either black or red pigment, the engraving is done with a well-whetted lozenge graver, the work being dressed off when the engraving is done and the filling set by brushing with wet whiting and then with a softer brush and dry whiting to give the finishing polish.